I just spoke to a woman that does the processing when an inmate is paroled and was told OJ will be on a ED, and it doesn’t specify a length of time, so he could very well be on it the entire three years of his parole.

I’m happy he’s coming home, but very sad about the possibility of him being a virtual prisoner here at home for three years. She said his crime (murder) and the length of his incarceration (17 yrs) is why he has that indeterminate time frame.

He still hasn’t been told, and I know this is going to take away some of his joy and excitement of being released. He’s told me he has his attorney on call to look into this matter, if it happens. So now I guess we’ll be fighting this battle. OJ’s argument is, he was sentenced to a specific amount of time to do, he’s done that time. He hopes because the sentencing judge didn’t order this, that he has a legal argument.

I just feel awful for him/us. We knew it was a possibility, but we were being told things like three to six months. No one ever said it could be the entire parole time. The bright note is. It’s up to his parole agent how long it really last, if OJ follows the rules, tests clean (he’s never used drugs), works or goes to school. The parole people have the power to disconnect it sooner. But that’s counting on the fairness of a system; I’ve never known to be fair.

I’m just sick to my stomach, knowing this information before OJ. Do I tell him, or wait for him to get it in writing from them.

I’m sorry if I’m sounding ungrateful, or like a spoiled child. I know having him safely home is a blessing, regardless of the ED. But we’ve also been waiting 17 years to share our lives with one another, we have trips, outings and things we’ve talked & dreamt about for years planned. Now they’ll have to wait, maybe another three years. Not to mention his elderly, very ill mother is a 50 minute ride from us. I was told that with the ED he’ll be allowed 6 hours a week for personal time. Well that equates to one short visit a week to check on his mom (3 hours with travel time) and another three for any medical/dental/personal business he may have.

I’m sitting here in tears.. I hate that they’ll still be controlling him, even after he served his time, did the right things while inside and waited all these years to be free.. just to be not free.

Well it’s going to be okay.. I know if we made it through all these years of being apart, we can handle anything. I just wanted it to be better.

My boyfriend is getting out jan 28 and he to will be on house arrestt ...i think not knowing what to expect and wanting the to be free is very upsetting but just think at least he will be at home in your arms ....thats what i keep thinking ...and thinking it will all be ok ...just be patience ...hes parole officer told me to ...good luck ..

Look at the ED as a means to an end; incarceration. When life throws a curve ball, catch it, hit it or let it fall. With this new device, just think of creative ways to adjust to this. If the device has a certain range, try to find activities/events within the range. Continue to plan and dream.

If OJ does his part, maybe the system will do theirs. :-) I know this is a long shot, but hey we're in a New Year and anything can happen.

Monica, regarding whether or not you should tell him, ask yourself if you would want to know. You'll get your answere.

The key is to communicate, share and be open.

You & OJ will be fine.

Although I understand that your plans were for more freedom, if I were you I'd be just so grateful to have him with me after 17 years that I'd agree to anything. I can't imagine that they'd keep him on ED for three years if he's doing everything right. And my gosh, where his mother is concerned, you can be just thankful he can see her at all as a free man before she dies. Thousands of people don't get that privilege when they're in prison, and especially not in prison for murder.

Just keep doing the next right thing. You can't go wrong that way. If he has to be on ED for awhile, just don't project the worst. Pull for the best and that will give him the incentive to do that, too.

OK I had to go down and take out the trash so I was kind of brief in that post.

I know it has to be very disappointing that he's not going to have his total freedom after doing so many years. I'll help you pray that he won't get three years of electronic monitoring. If he does, though, they may gradually increase his limits even with the device on if he can do well with the initial limits.

Another blessing in disguise that you have with ED is that it will probably actually help him to integrate back into society more successfully by doing it gradually.

Hang in there. It's all going to work out as it's meant to. Just try to do one day at a time. Stock in lots of movies, music, food, video games------lots of stuff to keep him happy and occupied while he can't do much.